MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, March 25, 2017
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. (Pacific)
Location: MAPFRE Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Forecast: Showers, 64 degrees
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant Referees: Jason White, Craig Lowry Fourth Official: Sorin Stoica
National TV: ROOT SPORTS
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst), Samantha Yarock (reporter)
English Radio: 750 The Game (KXTG 750 AM, 102.9 FM)
Talent: Keith Bleyer (play-by-play), Brett Jacobs (analyst)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Ozkar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
The Portland Timbers will travel to MAPFRE Stadium to take on Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, March 25. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific), the March 25 match will be broadcast live on ROOT SPORTS with local radio broadcasts on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish). The Timbers head into Saturday’s fixture after picking up a 4-2 win against the Houston Dynamo on March 18, continuing the team’s strongest start to an MLS season in the club’s MLS era. Midfielder Diego Valeri recorded a brace, while forward Fanendo Adi and midfielder David Guzmán each tallied a goal and an assist in the second half. Columbus Crew SC ventures into the game coming off a 2-0 win against D.C. United, compiling a 1-1-1 record through three games.
LAST MATCH RECAP
Behind three second-half goals, the Portland Timbers recorded their third win of the season with a 4-2 win against the Houston Dynamo before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on March 18. With the win, the Timbers are unbeaten in their first three league games, continuing the team’s strongest start to a season in the club’s MLS era. Midfielder Diego Valeri recorded his second brace in three games played in the win against Houston, while forward Fanendo Adi and midfielder David Guzmán each added a goal and an assist in the second half. With the four-goal production against the Dynamo, Portland has scored 10 goals so far this season, marking the most goals scored through the first three games to start a season across all eras in club history (since 1975). Opening the first half on the front foot, the Timbers scored just 11 minutes into the match when Valeri converted from the penalty spot. Portland found the equalizing goal when Valeri scored his second goal of the game in the 58th minute, tallying his fourth finish of the season. Portland took the lead in the 66th minute when Guzmán finished Darlington Nagbe’s pass to score his first goal for the Timbers, while Adi finished the scoring in the 88th minute.
LAST TIME VS. COLUMBUS
The Portland Timbers opened the 2016 regular season with a 2-1 victory over Columbus Crew SC before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park on March.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
Saturday’s match marks the eighth regular-season match between the Timbers and Crew SC, with Portland unbeaten in its last three league matches against Columbus. In the lone fixture between the two teams last season, Portland registered a 2-1 win on opening day, with forward Fanendo Adi and midfielder Diego Valeri each scoring for Portland on March 6, 2016. The Timbers and Crew SC have only met once in the MLS postseason, with Portland defeating Columbus 2-1 in the 2015 MLS Cup final at MAPFRE Stadium to win the club’s first MLS championship. Forward Fanendo Adi and midfielder Federico Higuaín are tied for the most goals scored in the series, with both players tallying three goals.
SCOUTING COLUMBUS
Columbus Crew SC enters Saturday’s match with four points through three games played, producing a 1-1-1 record to start the season. After opening the season with a 1-1 draw against Chicago on March 4, and a 3-1 loss against the Houston Dynamo on March 11, Crew SC picked up its first win of the season in a 2-0 victory against Eastern Conference side D.C. United last weekend. Midfielder Federico Higuaín and forward Ola Kamara each scored in the road win against D.C. United. Through three games played, Kamara leads the team in goals scored (2), with midfielder Justin Meram leading the way for assists (2). Overall, Crew SC has found goals from three different players.
